Free-Standing Tap Barre Practice and Exercise Device

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a tap barre practice and exercise device that has a horizontally fixed barre with at two arms for gripping attached to a substantially straight vertical support, which is in turn attached to a base which sits on a flat surface and allows the device to be free-standing. The height of the barre can be raised or lowered vertically as needed, and the vertical support can have a seat, and optionally the seat can pivot around the vertical support and be locked in one of two positions. The barre substantially aligns vertically with the base, so that a user can support his torso by gripping or leaning on the barre and have his center of gravity located over the base, thereby providing a stable, free-standing device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates to a tap dance barre practice and exercise device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Current methods used to teach advanced tap steps include grasping a ballet barre while demonstrating steps for one foot at a time. Another method, similar to that with the barre, is done while gripping the back of a folding chair. These methods limit range of motion which, in turn, hinders teaching. Additionally, students tend to hunch over to keep their balance, because it is extremely difficult to support oneself upright (not hunched) grasping a surface in front of the torso. Applicant's free-standing tap barre device provides support on two sides of the student's torso, and permits extended lateral leg movement in essentially all directions. Tap students can keep their ankles loose and properly execute specific tap sounds. The optional portable wooden board also enhances the students' ability to hear the steps they are practicing, further enhancing their tap skills. Additionally, the tap barre device allows the students to practice advanced tap steps slowly while maintaining the proper upright posture necessary to execute them correctly. This device aids intermediate tap dancers to advance, and it helps instructors demonstrate advanced movements to students, such as “wings” and “pullbacks,” two steps that require that both feet be airborne simultaneously.

The present invention is a device that has a horizontally fixed barre that may be curved for gripping attached to vertical support, which is in turn attached to a base which sits on a flat surface, such as a floor, and allows the device to be free-standing. It is critical that the barre be fixed horizontally for tap dance practice. If the barre rotated horizontally, it would cause the dancer to lose balance and possibly fall. Only a barre that is fixed horizontally can be used according to the present invention for practicing tap dance steps. Optionally the height of the barre can be raised or lowered vertically as needed. Further optionally, the vertical support can have a seat, and optionally the seat can pivot around the vertical support. The fixed barre substantially aligns vertically with the base, so that a user can support his torso by gripping or leaning on the barre, and the device remains balanced and free-standing. The device is designed to have the user's center of gravity located over the base, providing stability.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,604 (DuPont) discloses a device having a straddle seat chair and a stand with a post supporting an upwardly directed handle bar used to grip while sitting or standing and exercising the legs. The seat has a forward ledge, and the post is positioned in a base. FIG. 3 of DuPont discloses a seated user gripping the handle bar and practicing tap dancing. FIG. 4 of DuPont discloses a standing user with an extended arm gripping with one hand the handle bar while practicing tap dancing to the side of the device. The handle bar has an adjustable clamp 18 which allows the handle to be adjusted vertically and horizontally. U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,604 fails to disclose the present invention having a horizontally fixed barre which extends over the base, thereby providing a stable, free-standing device when used.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,608 discloses an exercise device having a base with a support rod extending from the base. A chair is placed atop the support rod and a swingable means is formed by a main arm, an auxiliary arm, a handle and at least one bearing. The device is used for exercise by having the user sit in the fixed seat, grasp the handle and swing the swingable means to exercise. This patent fails to disclose the present invention having a horizontally fixed barre which extends over the base, thereby providing a stable, free-standing device when used.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,559,881 discloses an exercise device having a base, a central shaft and an auxiliary shaft rotatably attached to the base with handles at the top of the shaft and leg rails at the bottom of the shaft. The device is used by placing a chair next to the device to seat the user, who places his hands on the handles and his feet on the leg rails and rotates the shafts by pushing and pulling the handles and leg rails. Neither this patent nor any permissible combination of the above patents teaches or suggests the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a tap barre practice and exercise device that has a horizontally fixed barre that may be curved with at least one arm for gripping attached to a substantially straight vertical support, which is in turn attached to a base which sits on a flat surface and allows the device to be free-standing. Preferably, the barre has at least two arms. Optionally, the height of the barre can be raised or lowered vertically as needed. Further optionally, the vertical support can have a seat, and optionally the seat can pivot around the vertical support and be locked in one of two positions. The horizontally fixed barre substantially aligns vertically with the base, so that a user can support his torso by gripping or leaning on the barre and have his center of gravity located over the base, thereby providing a stable, free-standing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective elevated view of the tap barre practice and exercise device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective elevated view of the tap barre practice and exercise device of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective elevated view of the barre portion of the practice and exercise device of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective elevated view of the base portion of the practice and exercise device of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a side perspective elevated view of the tap barre practice and exercise device of the present invention with the optional tap board over the base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in FIG. 1. The tap barre device 1 is broadly disclosed in four components, the barre 10, the vertical support 20, the seat 30 and the base 40. The barre 10 is approximately horizontal and may be curved tubing having at least one arm, and preferably two or more arms 12. The barre 10 material can be a strong metal such as steel or aluminum, a composite or polymeric material. The material must have sufficient strength to bear the weight of the user without bending or breaking. Preferably, 1.25 inch o.d. steel pipe is used for construction. The curved shape provides optionally removable gripping surfaces 14 that can sustain the user's weight on two sides of the torso, rather than on one side of the torso. As shown in FIG. 3, approximately mid-way along the curve of the barre 10 is a shaft 16 that extends downward and is designed to engage by insertion with the barre end 26 of the vertical support 20. The shaft 16 has a bullet catch 18 that is used to engage one of the openings 22 in the vertical support 20 and adjust the vertical height of the barre 10. The bullet catch 18 also works to fix the barre 10 horizontally, so that it does not rotate around the shaft 16. Other forms of engagement with the openings 22 are also contemplated in this invention, including bolts, pins or locks. Preferably, there are about 5 openings 22 spaced to give an adjustment range of about 4 inches.

The vertical support 20 is essentially straight and vertical and extends from the barre end 26 to the base end 28, and must be strong enough to bear the weight of the user without bending or breaking. Preferably, two inch o.d. steel pipe is used for the vertical support 20, and is of sufficiently large diameter that the shaft 16 can be inserted into the vertical bar 20. Near the barre end 26 of the vertical support 20 are spaced openings 22 that engage with the bullet catch 18 of the shaft 16 of the barre 10. Near the base end 28 of the vertical support 20 is a bullet catch 29 which is used to engage an opening 46 in the upright 48 of the base 40. When the bullet catch 29 is engaged with the opening 46 of the base 40, the vertical support 20 is horizontally locked and cannot rotate. Optionally, the seat 30 is attached to the vertical support 20 by resting on a fixed collar 24, which may be fixed by welding or other mechanical means, such as bolts or bullet catches, to support the removable seat 30. As shown in FIG. 2, the seat 30 is installed by sliding over and down the vertical support 20 and resting on the fixed collar 24. Optionally, the seat 30 is able to rotate around the vertical support 20 and can be pivoted to the opposite side of the support 20, away from the barre 10, as is shown in FIG. 2. Optionally, the seat 30 can be locked in one of two positions using a bullet catch, a bolt or other locking means (not shown). Optionally, the seat can be raised with the addition of removable collars (not shown) that are installed in a fashion similar to that of the seat 30.

The base end 28 of the vertical support 20 is insertable into the upright 48 of the base 40. As shown in FIG. 4, the upright 48 is essentially vertical and is attached to the at least two legs 50 of the base 40, which are essentially horizontal and rest on the floor. Optionally the legs 50 are curved and are aligned with the vertical support 20 to provide support essentially vertically under the barre 10. The location of the legs 50 is critical to the stability of the tap barre device 1, as it allows the weight of the user to be directly supported by the base 40. The bullet catches 18 and 29 when engaged with the vertical support 20 and the base 40 allow the barre 10 to be substantially vertically aligned with the base 40. Optionally, the base has reinforcing 42 along the curve of the legs 50 to further stabilize it and to prevent bending of the base as the barre 10 is used. Further optionally, there is at least one wheel 44 attached to the upright 48 which engages the floor when the vertical support 20 is tipped, allowing the device 1 to be moved by rolling rather than by lifting or dragging. Preferably, there are two or more wheels 44.

As shown in FIG. 2, the seat 30 is constructed of any suitable strong and durable material, such as metal, wood or plastic. Preferably, the seat is made of ½ inch plywood 38, which is padded and covered with materials well-known in the art (not shown). The plywood seat rests on a sheet metal support 36 which is welded to a metal pipe collar 34 and reinforced with a sheet metal gusset 32. The collar 34 is of sufficient diameter to fit over the vertical support 20, and rest on the fixed collar 24.

As shown in FIG. 5, the optional tap board 52 rests on at least two pads 54 and is used as surface to practice tap dancing. The pads are used to raise the board 52 equal to or above the height of the legs 50 of the base 40 to stabilize the board 52. Preferably there are four or more pads. The pads can be from about ½ inch to 1 inch high and made of rigid foam to absorb shock when used. Part of the process of learning tap dancing is listening to and making the appropriate tap sounds. A tap board 52 helps with that process. Any commercially available tap board can be used. Preferably, the tap board 52 is made of three layers of ¼ inch hardwood, with grain patterns perpendicular to each other for reinforcement, glued together and finished. Most preferably, 6 blocks are placed around the perimeter of the bottom of the tap board 52.

The tap barre device 1 can be assembled as follows:

-   -   1. The base 40 is moved to the desired location.     -   2. The base end 28 of the vertical support 20 is inserted into         the upright 48 of the base 40. The bullet catch 29 on the         vertical support 20 engages with the opening 46 of the base.     -   3. The collar 34 of the seat 30 is slid down the vertical         support 20 and rests on the fixed collar 24.     -   4. The shaft 16 of the barre 10 is inserted into the barre end         26 of the vertical support 20. The bullet catch 18 of the barre         10 engages with one of the spaced openings 22 on the vertical         support 20, horizontally fixing the barre.

Optionally, the tap barre device 1 can be used without the chair 30, and that step of the assembly can be eliminated. Optionally, the height of the chair can be raised by adding removable collars before installing the seat 30. Optionally, the steps outlined above can be reversed or interchanged. There is no criticality in order of assembly, except that the chair must be installed before barre end 26 of the vertical support 20 is covered.

The tap barre device 1 can be disassembled by reversing the above steps and removing the parts. This allows the device to be stored or transported easily.

The assembled tap barre device 1 can easily be moved by tipping the vertical support 20 back onto the optional wheels 44 and rolling the device to the desired location.

To use the tap barre device 1, a user can face the vertical support 20 and place his hands or forearms on the grips 14, thereby supporting himself and moving his feet to practice steps. Alternatively, the user can have his back to the vertical support 20, facing outward, place his hands or forearms on the grips 14, and practice steps. During these two exercises, either the seat 30 is not installed, or it is rotated away from the barre side of the tap barre device 1. Another method of use involves sitting on the seat 30 while resting the arms on the barre and practicing the steps while seated. The seat 30 is positioned on the barre side of the device when using this method. In any of the above methods may or may not use the tap board 52.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A tap barre device comprising a barre, a vertical support and a base; wherein the vertical support is substantially straight and has a barre end and a base end; wherein the barre is horizontally fixed to the barre end; wherein the base is horizontally fixed to base end; and wherein the barre substantially aligns vertically with the base.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein a seat is attached to the vertical support, between the barre end and the base end.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein barre is curved and the base is curved.
 4. The device of claim 2, wherein the seat is removeably attached to the vertical support.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the seat has two fixed positions.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the barre and the base are removeably attached to the vertical support.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the vertical support has multiple positions to engage the barre, providing multiple height positions.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein at least one wheel is attached to the base.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein two wheels are attached to the base.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein there is reinforcing on the base.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein a tap board is located over the base.
 12. A tap barre device comprising a barre, a vertical support and a base; wherein the vertical support is substantially straight and has a barre end and a base end; wherein the barre is horizontally fixed to the barre end; wherein the base is horizontally fixed to base end; wherein the barre substantially aligns vertically with the base; wherein a seat is attached to the vertical support between the barre end and the base end.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the barre has arms and the arms have grips.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the barre is curved.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the barre and the base are removeably attached to the vertical support.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the vertical support has multiple positions to engage the barre, providing multiple height positions.
 17. A tap barre device comprising a barre, a vertical support, a base, and a tap board; wherein the vertical support is substantially straight and has a barre end and a base end; wherein the barre is horizontally fixed to the barre end; wherein the base is horizontally fixed to base end; wherein the tap board is over the base; and wherein the barre substantially aligns vertically with the base.
 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the tap board has at least two pads.
 19. The device of claim 18, wherein the pads of the tap board are made of rigid foam.
 20. The device of claim 18, wherein a seat is attached to the vertical support between the barre end and the base end. 